New Study Further Undermines Policy A former Army Ranger is speaking out against the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy. 26 year-old Brian Hughes served four years in the Army, including courageous combat service in Afghanistan and Iraq. Hughes participated in a new study that further undermines the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. This study is the first assessment of the impact of the gay ban on U.S. military effectiveness in recent Middle East wars. The study, by Dr. Nathaniel Frank, is titled "Gays and Lesbians at War: Military Service in Iraq and Afghanistan Under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'” It was conducted by the The Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military (CSSMM) at the University of California, Santa Barbara, concludes that gays and lesbians serve openly in the Middle East without undermining unit cohesion or the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. When gays are out, they report greater success with unit morale, professional advancement, levels of commitment and retention, and access to essential support services. Click here to read news story about the study, including an interview with Brian Hughes. Click here to read CSSMM news release about this study and read the entire study. |
